Elastic-fluid turbine.



H. GBISENHNER.

ELASTIG FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION IILED FEB, 10, 1905.

Patented Jan. l, vw19'.

2 SHEETS-TSBEET 3.,

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H.. GBsBNHNER.

ELASIIG FLUID TURBNE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. l0, 1906.

Patent Jan. 11, 19H).

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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Open 49 Reversing Inventor: 'l l Henry Gesenhonev; .if v A n To all 'whom 'it may ESP Friens HENRY GEISENHNEB, OF SCHENECTADY, YOR-K. .ASSIGNOB T0 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, vA CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

ELAsrIc-'FL'UID TURBINE.,

Application filed February 10, 1905. `Serial No. 244,997.

eoncefmf Be it known that'I, HENRY GEIsnNHNaR, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Schenectady," in the county of Schenec;a.dy and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in .Elastic-Fluid Turbines, of which` the followmg is a specification.

The present invention relates to a system of prime movers such 'as elastic-duid tur.-

bines, which are arranged in a manner to enable power to be delivered to a. single driving shaft from any one of the units.

lt contemplates the use of a main turbine for furnishing power for normal operation, and one or more secondary turbines for otherl conditions of Operation, which may be coupled to the driving shaft at any time when the same is required for service.

A system of this character may be employed for various purposes. For the sake of simplicity I have illustrated the same as a 1set of prime movers for propelling a vesse necessary for reverse as well as for forward running. To meet this requirement l provide a main turbine, which is preferably permanently connected with the propeller shaft and used for forward movement of the vessel, and a secondary turbine for astern movement. and driving shaft a suitable power or transmitting connection is provided whereby the said turbine may be cut into or out ofV service lwhen desired, thus relieving the main turload of driving the secbine of the extra ondary turbine whlle rotating the propeller# shaft. l t

The power-transmitting connection between the secondary turbine and the driving shaft is also a feature of the invention. l have aimed toprovide a means which o erates automatically to connect the secon ary turbine to the driving shaft when motive fluid is supplied to the said -turbine, and to disconnect it when motive fluid is supplied to the main turbine, thereby insuring the proper driving relation between the'turbines and the shaft.

The secondary turbine, instead of being used for reversing purposes, 'may 'be employed as a low-speed turbine for forward propulsion lof the vessel for cruising speed., Again, two secondary turbines may be ernployed, one as a reverser and the other as a turbines.

In this class\of service provision is Between the secondary. turbine` .common base cruising' turbine with separate automatically -actuated gearing connections between their respective shafts and the driving or propelling shaft.

For a more detailed understanding of the invention reference is to be made to .the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing which illustrates one embodiment of my invention.

The novel features will be set forth in the claims appended hereto. v

In the drawings Figure l is a view of my improved power apparatus showing the tur bines in longitudinal sections; Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views of a valve for controlling the apparatus, and Fig. 4 shows an arrangement of full speed, cruising and reversing Referring to the drawing, l and 2 represent, respectively, a main turbine and a secondary turbine shown in central longitudinal section. These may be of any suitable construction, although turbines of the wellknown Curtis type are shown for convenience of illustration. rIhe turbine shafts 3 and 4 may be arranged in any relation to each other, preferably parallel and nonalining. Permanently or otherwise coni nected with the shaft 3 of the main turbine lis a propeller-shaft 5 which is provided with xa reversing propeller 6. No attempt is made to show jbearings or brackets for the pro-` peller shaftv or the 'coupling between the latter and the main turbine shaft,'as these 'are' immaterial features so far as the present invention is concerned. Between the turbine shafts are permanently meshing gears 7 and 8 bymeans of which the secondary turbine may deliver power to the propeller.- shaft through the agency of the main turbine shaft. j.,

Two turbines are similarly constructed but are of different dimensions. Each .comprises a bucket-wheel 9 keyed toits shaft.n

"and mounted in a casinglO. The bucketwheel is provided with a numberof rows of buckets 1l with which coperate intermedi-1 ates 12, the buckets receiving steam orother" elastic-fluid through discharging devices 13` fromfa steam chest 14. The exhaust steam from the .buckets escapesthrough a port l5 Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan.. 11, i910. i

which may connect with a condenser orto,"

at-mcsphere. vThe Vturbines are mounted on a y K and their caslngs are made in two parts `divisible on a horizontalv plane.

The supplies of motive Huid are delivered through conduits 16 and 17 connectedrespectively' to the main and secondary turbines, which conduits are controlled by separate valves 18 and 19.

In ordervthat the secondary turbine may be thrown into or out of operation, that is to say-connected with or disconnected from the driving shaft, a clutch mechanism is provided Which controls the gearing between the turbine shafts. This mechanism is preferably arranged-on the 'main turbine shaft 3, and comprises a slidable member 20 which is provided .with teeth 21 that engage in slots formed in the hub of the gear 7, although any other clutching arrangement may be employed. The slidable member 20 moves on a sleeve 22 fixed on the shaft 3 and is caused to turn with the shaft by means of a feather 23. The Gear 7 is prevented from moving axially ot the shaft by beingconined between one end of the sleeve 22 anda bearing boss 24 formed on the turbinecasing, soV that the gears :are mainor any other suitable part.- The connection tained permanently in mesh. To operate the movable member of theclutch a lever 2 5 is provided 'which is fulcrumed upon a bracket 2G mounted on the secondary turbine casing between the lever and the movable sleeve is of the lusual slip arrangement; that is to say, the lever has a bifurcated end carrying in` wardly-p'rojecting pins 27 which engage in an annular groove 2 8 provided in the circumference of the movable member.

The lever 25 may be manually actuated if desired, although I prefer to operate it automatically. For this purpose a motor is employed which utilizes the pressure of the fluid supplied to theturbine. It comprises v cylinders 29, each having. a single acting piston 30, which pistons vare rigidly conn ected by a rod 31. To the rod'31 is pivoted the free end ofthe clutch actuating lever 25. The pistons'are connected to the supply conduits leading to the turbines in such a manner that when the supply to the main turbine' is opened, pressure is brought to bear upon the motor to release the clutch and when the supply to the'auxiliary turbine is openedl to set the clutch.' To bring about this result the main supply conduit *suitably-constructed three-way'valve may be substituted for the separate valves located i' the auxiliary turbine and the right hand cylinder of the clutch actuating motor. Obviously, by turning the valve from one position to the other, the supply to one turbine is first cut off and then opened to the other turbine. The proper location of the motor may be determined by circumstances, the arrangement shown being more or less diagrammatical.

The secondary turbine according to the predetermined direction of rotation may be a reversing or a cruising turbine. Furthermore, the arrangement of the secondary turbine may be duplicated, thus providing a power set comprising three turbines, namely, a high speed main turbine, a cruising sec- Ondary turbine and a reversing secondary turbine, each secondary turbine having separate gearing and clutch mechanisms.4

In Fig. 4l is shown an arrangement of turbines for propelling a ship at full speed forward, cruising speed and reversing. 1 indicates the main turbine for driving the vessel at full speed forward and is direct connected to the propeller shaft 5. The reversing turbine is indicated at 2 and is adapted to drive the propeller shaft through suitable means which may be typified by the pinion 8 spur gear 7 and clutch parts 20, 21 and hub of the gear 7. The clutch is actuated by the lever 25 and pistons 30 located in cylinders 29 as described'inconnection with Fig. 1. The

cruising turbine 4() is suitably mounted with respect to the main turbine, as for example on its baseer other suitable frame. This turbine isconnected to the propeller shaft by suitable means which may be typified' by the pinion 41, spur gear 42 and4 clutch 43. The clutch. may advantageously be of the character employed for connecting and disconnecting the reversing turbine and the propeller shaft. The connecting means between the cruising turbine and the propeller shaft 5 may be on one side or the other of the main shaft-coupling 44 as is desired. The clutch is operated by the lever 45 and motors .46 j and 47 after the fashion of the clutch for the L Steam is supplied tothe a reversing turbine. cruising turbine by the conduit 48 under the control of valve' 49 and is exhausted by the conduit 50. The action of motor -46 for tion-ofthe motor`47 which moves theclutch 43 inthe oppositedirection is controlledby the valve- 52 which admits steam, to and cuts it off 'from the pipe 53.

The action of thel apparatus -is as follows:

. Assuming -that the `main .turbine has been operating and it is desired to reduce the speedl t'o cruising conditions, the valve 54 is'closed which-shutsoif steam to turbine 1. The valve 49 is then opened v'a'nd'steam passes from the main 55 to the motor 46 whichcloses thev clutch 43, andv to the cruising turbine 40. Under these conditions the propeller 6 is driven-by the turbine 40, the turbines 1 and 2 being idle. As theexhaust conduit'sarenot vdisturbed the bucket Wheels of'turbinesl and 2 willvrotate in a vacuum andgco'nsumelittle power.

The turbine 40 can-.rotate ataisuitable speed to produce economical.resl'xlts, and

by reason ofthe speed reducing connectionl the propeller shaft will rotate-at the desired reduced speed. To reverse the ship valve v49 is closed and then valve 18. v `Valve52 is' then opened and later-valve 19. This results in unclutching the f'cruising .turbine .and clutching vin the vreversing turbine. `The change from thereversing to themain turf' the main bucket wheel a. vacuum may with advantage be maintained in the main turbine casing, thus relieving the v secondary turbine `to a certain eXtent. 4

From the above description it will be Ynoted that in my vsystem the turbines are common driving shaft.

entirely independent in operation and deliver substantially their full power to a In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the prin# ciple of operation of my invention, together' with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof; but I desire to have it understood that4 the apparatus shown is onl `illustrative, 'and that the' invention can'lie out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

l. In an apparatus of they character described, the combination of a plurality of turbines having separate shafts, a driven shaft which receives ower from the turbines, a power-transmltting connection between the turbine: shafts, `and a power actuated clutch means' for connecting and disconnecting one of the turbines and the driver shaft.

2. In an apparatus of the character decarried v "scribed", the: combination :ofz: ab maint-turbine, f af-secondaiy"turbinegindependentffiuidizdischarging vices for .theturbineafa lidl'ia'ren shaft, directly connected. withhe'ainainztun bine shaft, gearing for' transmitting-.power 70 from the secondary turbine to vthe=.,= driv en fshaft, andmeans .for cutting the seconda .turbinejinto-and cutoff-service. 3. In an appara-tus'fof the :character :dexscribed, .thef'combinationfof a. 1nain,turbine,

`-a. secondary turbine, a controllable arin 1 connection :betweeny the z turbine. sha fa. driven 'shaft 'whichwisfaidapted toa receive power.from-'e1ther :turbine v4. ,In an apparatus offthe richaracterrde-f scribed, the combination.'of 'aimainiturbing 1 a secondary4 turbine, a. driven'sshafti-.direozly 'connected 'to'. thefshaft of'v th'ei main* turbine,

agearing betweenQ-.thev'shafts offfthe turbines,

and: a clutch-1 mechanism fori contrllingi'the "opera-tive :relation of thezsecondary. turbine toz'the driven shaft. through'saidgearing V5. combination,independent. i turbines, Y

.a driving `connection'fz-between u the shafts thereof, and `means for controlling-Seidmanlnection :which Vdepends fornits ...operation Epen the ,supplies of motive iiuid tothe-.tur-

ines.

.6.;In:combinatiomindependent turbines, i z-.a 4 driving iconnection4 rbetween *fthe s shaftsl thereof, .means-fon controllingfsaideconnecl tion, candy.,fan.fautomatrcallyacmated-imotor fonoperating; Saad ;;m eans-:w'h1ch Adepends for its operation .upon @the fsupplies '.-of .motive fluid to ther turbines.

lb 7. In lcombinatioill, independentpturbines,

gearing betweenk the shafts thereof, a clutch controlling said gearing, a motor 'for vactuating the clutch, and a system of supply conduits whereby the motor and either turbine inay be operated simultaneously.

8. In combination, independent turbines, gearing between the shafts thereof, a clutch controlling the gearing, a motor for actuat? whereby the clutch is disconnected when the l main sup ly is opened and connected when the secon ary supply is opened.

9. In a set of en ines for marine pulsion, a propeller s aft, an engine to rive said shaft -in a manner vto propel the vessel L forward, an independent means comprising an elastic -iluid' turbine adapted to drive said shaft to reverse the vessel, power actuated means to disconnect saidturbine from said shaft while the vessel is being driven forward, and valve mechanism for controlling the actionof the last mentioned means. Y'

10. The combination of a propeller shaft, a forward'drlvlng turbine connected thereto,

"1i-second shaft, 'a'se'parte and independent --.'eveising'turb1ne connected thereto, poweractuated clutch means to connect and disconnect said shafts', and valve mechanism forV controlling the action of the last mentioned means.

11. The combination of two reversely acting turbines, a controller means adapted to cut oneof said turbines outl of service beseparate shafts for said turbines, a propeller fore admitting motor fluid to the other,

driven by one of saidvshafts, power actuated means -for connecting and disconnecting said shafts which is .so coupled up with said controller means that when one of said turbines is disconnected bysaid means from the proeller shaft its supply of motor tluid and power transmission means between the shaft which permits one-to move ata different rate of speed than the other.

' 12. In a 'marine turbine, a propeller shaft, a forward driving and a reversing` turbine adapted to drive saidshaft, a clutch, a piston and cyllnder for actuatlng the clutch,

and means adapted to simultaneousl operate the clutch to disconnectV one o said 'lso turbines fromA said .shaft and cut off itsl suply of motlveluid. l

l The combination of a pro eller shaft,

a forward driving turbine fixed y connected v thereto, a second shaft,.a reversing turbine connected thereto, a speed red :between vthe second shaft and f shaft, and clutch means actlng ucing gearing the propeller ing to connect and disconnect said shafts.

14. In combination, a shaft, an engine for on the geardriving said shaft, 4a turbine for driving said shaft, a speed changing driving connection between the turbine and said shaft, and a means for rendering said connection operative or inoperative.

15. In combination, a shaft, an engine for driving it under full speed conditions, a turbine for driving a shaft under cruising lspeed conditions, a speed changing connection for conveying the power of the turbine to said shaft, and a means for cutting off the supply 'of motive fluid to the engine when the turbine is operating.

16. In combination, a propeller shaft, an engine for driving it under speed conditions, a turbine for driving the propeller shaft. under cruising speed conditions, the propeller and turbine shafts being parallel and non-alining, means for conveying power from the turbine. shaft to the propeller shaft,

HENRY GEISENHN ER.

4 Witnesses BENJAMIN B. HULL,

HELEN ORFoaD. 

